Variations in erythropoiesis throughout a lifetime. Studies in a high-leukaemic mouse strain, the AKR/O strain, and a non-leukaemic strain, the WLO strain

We have studied the development of some haematological variables: erythropoiesis stimulating factor(s) (ESF), investigated with an in vitro cell culture assay; and the content of bone marrow and spleen erythroid colony forming unit(s) (CFU-E) and erythroid burst forming unit(s) (BFU-E) throughout the lifetime of 2 different mouse strains: the high-leukaemic, retrovirus infected AKR/O strain, and the non-leukaemic WLO strain. During the recovery phase of the postnatal anaemia, a peak in plasma ESF occurs in both strains. In young adult mice of both strains another peak in plasma ESF occurs at 70-110 days of age, associated with an increased number of bone marrow CFU-E, in a period when packed cell volume (PCV) remains stable. As the animals grow older PCV decreases, whereas plasma ESF and bone marrow CFU-E concentration increase. These results, together with in vitro dose-response studies, suggest reduced sensitivity to erythropoietin (Epo) of the ageing erythron. Throughout, the AKR/O strain has higher levels of plasma ESF and bone marrow CFU-E concentrations than the WLO strain, indicating both a reduced Epo responsiveness and some degree of ineffective erythropoiesis in the AKR/O strain. At all ages the AKR/O strain has a high concentration of Epo independent bone marrow CFU-E, possibly caused by the virus infection of precursor cells.     

Stress, strain, and mechanotransduction in cells.

It is widely accepted that numerous cell types respond to mechanical stimuli, yet there is no general agreement as to whether particular cells respond directly to stress, strain, strain-rate, strain-energy, or other mechanical quantities. By recalling the definitions of the mathematical (not physical) concepts of stress and strain, it is suggested herein that cells cannot respond directly to these continuum metrics or to quantities derived from them--mechanistic models will need to be based on more fundamental quantities, as, for example, inter-atomic forces or conformational changes of the appropriate molecules. Nonetheless, the concepts of stress and strain should continue to play an important role in mechanobiology, both in the identification of empirical correlations and in the development of phenomenological constitutive models, each of which can contribute to our basic understanding as well as help in the design of future experiments and some clinical interventions. It is important to remember, therefore, that empirical correlations and most constitutive relations in continuum mechanics do not seek to model the actual physics--rather, their utility is in their predictive capability, which is often achieved via different relations in terms of different metrics for the same material under different conditions. Hence, with regard to quantifying cellular responses to mechanical stimuli, we must delineate between the identification of fundamental mechanisms and the formulation of phenomenological correlations, the latter of which only requires convenient metrics that need not be unique or physical.     

Evaluation of live trivalent vaccine of measles AIK-C strain, mumps Hoshino strain and rubella Takahashi strain, by virus-specific interferon-gamma production and antibody response

A trivalent measles-mumps-rubella live virus vaccine, containing measles AIK-C strain, mumps Hoshino strain, and rubella Takahashi strain, was evaluated in 229 children, aged 1 to 5 years. The vaccine induced a high seroconversion rate: 221 (98.7%) out of 224 subjects initially seronegative for measles virus, 167 (93.3%) out of 179 initially seronegative for mumps virus, and 212 (99.1%) out of 214 initially seronegative for rubella virus. It also induced a sufficient cellular immunity against each of the three viruses in over 90% of the subjects, as judged by virus-specific interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production. Virus-specific IFN-gamma production was observed 10 days after vaccination by stimulation with measles virus and rubella virus and 14 days after vaccination by stimulation with mumps virus. Mumps-virus-specific IFN-gamma production was observed in 7 out of 12 recipients without seroconversion for mumps virus. And measles-virus-specific IFN-gamma production was demonstrated in one out of three recipients without seroconversion for measles virus. A significant correlation was observed between the serum antibody and IFN-gamma production six weeks after vaccination for measles virus (r = 0.201, P less than 0.01) and for mumps virus (r = 0.174, P less than 0.05) but not for rubella virus (r = -0.045, P less than 0.05). The incidence of febrile reactions of greater than or equal to 37.5 C was quite low, 14.4%, and that of greater than or equal to 39 C occurred in only 1.3% of the recipients. These results suggested that the trivalent vaccine induced sufficient humoral and cellular immunity and yet resulted in no more untoward reaction than observed from the measles vaccine alone.     

Enrichment,isolation, and characterization of phenol-degrading Pseudomonas resinovorans strain P-1 and Brevibacillus sp. strain P-6

The objectives of this research were to isolate pure phenol-degrading strains from enriched mixed cultures, monitoring the variations of species during the enrichment period. Two strains were isolated from the acclimated mixed culture. They were identified as Pseudomonas resinovorans strain P-1 and Brevibacillus sp. strain P-6. DGGE indicated that strain P. resinovorans appeared at the beginning, and maintained well during the enrichment period. The second strain, Brevibacillus sp., did not appear in the initial stage, but showed up after 2 weeks of enrichment. The optimum growth temperatures for P. resinovorans and Brevibacillus sp. were 31 and 39 °C, respectively. P. resinovorans could degrade phenol completely within 57.5 h, when the initial phenol concentration was lower than 600 mg l⁻¹. If the initial phenol concentration was lower than 200 mg l⁻¹, Brevibacillus sp. could remove phenol completely within 93.1 h. It was obvious that the phenol-degrading ability of P. resinovorans was much better than that of Brevibacillus sp. The metabolic pathway for P. resinovorans phenol degradation was assigned to the meta-cleavage activity of catechol 2,3-dioxygenase.     

A thermophilic,motile strain ofMicrobacterium

Summary A thermophilic, motile organism producing catalase is described. It belongs certainly to the genusMicrobacterium by reason of its catalase production, although in its morphology, in some secondary characters and in its fermentative properties it more nearly resembles members of the genusLactobacillus. The nameMicrobacterium mobile is proposed for this organism.     

Formation,regeneration, and fusion of protoplasts in aCellulomonas strain

The effect of different conditions on protoplast formation was studied in the streptomycin-resistant strainCellulomonas sp.M32Bo. The greatest efficiency (75% protoplasts) was achieved by use of 0.5M sodium succinate as osmotic stabilizer, supplemented with 20 mM MgCl₂, 200 µg/ml of lysozyme, and 0.01M EDTA at pH 7.4. Cells harvested at the midexponential growth phase were more suitable for protoplast formation than those of the stationary phase. Electron microscopy observations showed the presence of both protoplasts and spheroplasts in the treated samples, some of them still showing a rod shape. Two regeneration media were developed that showed similar regeneration frequencies (52%). StrainM32Bo was fused with a tetracycline-resistant strain (Cellulomonas sp. Sz). Segregation analysis of fusant colonies suggested the existence of a temporary diploid stage in which both parental genotypes were expressed.     

苯胺降解菌的筛选、降解特性及其发酵优化

【背景】近年来,苯胺类化合物加重了生态环境的污染,而生物法处理苯胺类废水具有较大发展潜力与广阔的应用前景。【目的】从长期受苯胺类化合物污染的活性污泥中分离获得一株能高效降解苯胺的菌株,优化其培养基及降解条件,为苯胺生物修复提供菌株与基因资源。【方法】采用平板法从富集驯化的菌株中筛选出以苯胺为唯一碳氮源和能源的高效降解菌,通过16S rRNA基因测序鉴定菌种,利用单因素筛选实验对降解条件进行优化,通过正交试验优化培养条件。【结果】筛选到一株苯胺降解菌BA-6,经鉴定为微杆菌属(Microbacterium)。菌株BA-6对初始浓度为600mg/L苯胺的日降解率可达98%以上。其高效降解的温度范围是30–37℃,pH范围是6.5–7.5。底物利用实验表明,菌株BA-6具有降解多种苯胺类化合物的能力。发酵培养基优化实验获得一种发酵培养基,活菌量高达3.06×10¹⁰CFU/mL。【结论】苯胺降解菌BA-6对苯胺有较强的降解能力和环境调节能力,在修复苯胺类化合物的生态污染方面有一定的应用前景。     

一株高效解磷菌的筛选鉴定及溶磷性能

【背景】土壤中大部分磷元素是以难溶性磷酸盐的形式存在,不能被农作物有效利用,而传统化学肥料会带来环境污染等问题。【目的】解决土壤磷缺失现状,开发新型、安全、高效的微生物菌肥。【方法】取武汉科技大学图书馆后土壤为试验材料,筛选出一株高效解磷菌。通过个体形态鉴定、生理生化鉴定、16S rRNA基因序列分析鉴定菌株,以NBRIP为基础培养基进行条件优化,借助高效液相色谱进行细菌解磷机理探究。【结果】所筛选的高效解磷菌株为唐菖蒲伯克霍尔德氏菌(Burkholderia gladioli)。在20种氨基酸中,D-蛋氨酸对菌株的生长和溶磷促进作用最好,促进效果达到19.09%和16.16%,甲酸钠对菌株的生长和溶磷有抑制效果,抑制效果达到39.08%和10.66%。该菌株通过分泌葡萄糖醛酸、D-L-苹果酸等有机酸溶解环境中的磷酸盐,将菌株制作成菌肥对辣椒幼苗有明显的促生长作用。【结论】利用唐菖蒲伯克霍尔德氏菌(Burkholderia gladioli)分泌有机酸溶解土壤中的磷酸盐,可为生物肥料的制备和应用提供一定的理论参考。     

产壳聚糖酶菌株的筛选、鉴定及酶学特性分析

【目的】利用筛选培养基,从福建沿海潮间带泥样中分离筛选产壳聚糖酶的菌株,并研究菌株的产酶特性。【方法】通过形态学观察,结合26S rDNA序列进行分类鉴定,采用DNS法测定酶活力。【结果】筛选得到产壳聚糖酶的菌株KQ-1002与草酸青霉(Penicillium oxalicum)的同源性为99%,并初步鉴定为青霉属的一种。发酵培养的最适温度为30°C,最适碳源为1.0%水溶性壳聚糖,最适氮源为1.87%(NH4)2SO4,最适pH为6.0。该菌株液体发酵培养72 h产壳聚糖酶活性最高,经优化后最高产酶量为18 U/mL。纯化后的壳聚糖酶经SDS-PAGE分析其分子量约40 kD。酶促反应最适pH为5.0,最适反应温度为55°C,Km值为1.293 g/L。在离子浓度为1.0×10 3mol/L时,金属离子Cu2+、Hg2+、Ag+对酶的活性均有强烈的抑制作用。壳聚糖酶对不同底物及脱乙酰度的壳聚糖具有不同的降解作用。【结论】筛选获得产壳聚糖酶的真菌菌株KQ-1002的壳聚糖酶活力经优化后提高了约7倍,是一株具有研究和应用潜力的产壳聚糖酶菌株。     

一株阿特拉津降解菌的分离鉴定及降解特性

从农药厂废水处理池的活性污泥中分离到一株阿特拉津降解菌X-4, 根据其生理生化特性和16S rRNA基因序列相似性分析, 将其初步鉴定为节杆菌属(Arthrobacter sp.)。该菌能以阿特拉津为唯一碳氮源生长, 42 h内对100 mg/L的阿特拉津降解效果为95.7%, 降解阿特拉津的最适温度为30 °C, pH为7.0。该菌对多种重金属离子都存在抗性, 显示了其在去除阿特拉津和重金属复合污染方面的应用潜力。对其降解基因的初步研究显示, 该菌含有trzN、atzB和atzC 3个阿特拉津降解相关基因。     

一株产纤维素酶菌株的分离、鉴定及产酶特性

【目的】筛选并鉴定一株产纤维素酶的菌株,初步探究该菌的产酶特性,为综合利用纤维素筛选菌源。【方法】在常温条件下,采用滤纸培养基对菌种富集,采用CMC-Na初筛纤维素降解菌,采用LB培养基分离纯化菌株,经形态学、生理生化特征试验、16S r RNA基因序列测定等分析筛选菌株的系统分类地位。单因素试验确定培养时间、培养温度、初始p H及Na Cl浓度对筛选菌株产酶活力的影响。【结果】从腐烂的玉米秸秆中分离出一株在常温下产纤维素酶细菌KZ-2,根据菌落形态特征、生理生化特征鉴定以及16S r RNA基因序列分析,初步鉴定KZ-2为肠杆菌(Enterobacter sp.),为潜在新种。产酶条件实验显示:该菌使用产酶发酵培养基120 h产酶量达到最大值,在25–35°C、初始p H 4.5–5.5、Na Cl浓度1.0%–2.0%范围内为最佳产酶条件,在最适条件下酶活可达80.93 U/m L。该菌株所产纤维素酶最适反应p H为7.0,最适反应温度为50°C。【结论】KZ-2是一株具有降解纤维素能力的细菌,在常温下即可分泌纤维素酶,并且该菌株为潜在新种,具有潜在的开发价值。     

Comparative proteome analysis of Brucella melitensis vaccine strain Rev 1 and a virulent strain, 16M

The genus Brucella consists of bacterial pathogens that cause brucellosis, a major zoonotic disease characterized by undulant fever and neurological disorders in humans. Among the different Brucella species, Brucella melitensis is considered the most virulent. Despite successful use in animals, the vaccine strains remain infectious for humans. To understand the mechanism of virulence in B. melitensis, the proteome of vaccine strain Rev 1 was analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and compared to that of virulent strain 16M. The two strains were grown under identical laboratory conditions. Computer-assisted analysis of the two B. melitensis proteomes revealed proteins expressed in either 16M or Rev 1, as well as up- or down-regulation of proteins specific for each of these strains. These proteins were identified by peptide mass fingerprinting. It was found that certain metabolic pathways may be deregulated in Rev 1. Expression of an immunogenic 31-kDa outer membrane protein, proteins utilized for iron acquisition, and those that play a role in sugar binding, lipid degradation, and amino acid binding was altered in Rev 1.     

Comparison of strain measurement in the mouse forearm using subject-specific finite element models,strain gaging,and digital image correlation

Mechanical loading in bone leads to the activation of bone-forming pathways that are most likely associated with a minimum strain threshold being experienced by the osteocyte. To investigate the correlation between cellular response and mechanical stimuli, researchers must develop accurate ways to measure/compute strain both externally on the bone surface and internally at the osteocyte level. This study investigates the use of finite element (FE) models to compute bone surface strains on the mouse forearm. Strains from three FE models were compared to data collected experimentally through strain gaging and digital image correlation (DIC). Each FE model was assigned subject-specific bone properties and consisted of one-dimensional springs representing the interosseous membrane. After three-point bending was performed on the ulnae and radii, moment of inertia was determined from microCT analysis of the bone region between the supports and then used along with standard beam analyses to calculate the Young’s modulus. Non-contact strain measurements from DIC were determined to be more suitable for validating numerical results than experimental data obtained through conventional strain gaging. When comparing strain responses in the three ulnae, we observed a 3–14% difference between numerical and DIC strains while the strain gage values were 37–56% lower than numerical values. This study demonstrates a computational approach for capturing bone surface strains in the mouse forearm. Ultimately, strains from these macroscale models can be used as inputs for microscale and nanoscale FE models designed to analyze strains directly in the osteocyte lacunae.     

DNA stress and strain, in silico, in vitro and in vivo

A vast literature has explored the genetic interactions among the cellular components regulating gene expression in many organisms. Early on, in the absence of any biochemical definition, regulatory modules were conceived using the strict formalism of genetics to designate the modifiers of phenotype as either cis- or trans-acting depending on whether the relevant genes were embedded in the same or separate DNA molecules. This formalism distilled gene regulation down to its essence in much the same way that consideration of an ideal gas reveals essential thermodynamic and kinetic principles. Yet just as the anomalous behavior of materials may thwart an engineer who ignores their non-ideal properties, schemes to control and manipulate the genetic and epigenetic programs of cells may falter without a fuller and more quantitative elucidation of the physical and chemical characteristics of DNA and chromatin in vivo.     

阿特拉津降解菌株AD111的分离鉴定及其降解特性

【背景】玉豆轮作过程中,玉米田中长残留除草剂阿特拉津易对下茬大豆作物产生不良影响。【目的】从黑龙江省安达市的农田土筛选一株能适应该土壤环境生长的阿特拉津降解菌并研究其降解特性。【方法】利用富集培养法,分离、筛选一株阿特拉津高效降解菌并结合外观形态、生理生化及16SrRNA基因序列测定对其进行鉴定,通过单一变量法设置不同的碳源、pH、温度和阿特拉津浓度,研究降解菌株最佳发酵及降解条件。【结果】得到一株在BSM-G中能够以阿特拉津为唯一氮源生长的高效阿特拉津降解菌AD111,鉴定为马德普拉塔无色小杆菌(Achromobacter marplatensis)。菌株AD111降解阿特拉津的最适温度为35℃,最适pH为8.0,最佳碳源为蔗糖,24 h内对浓度为50 mg/L的阿特拉津降解率达到99.7%,对300 mg/L的阿特拉津降解率达到81.9%。【结论】降解菌AD111具有较好的环境适应及阿特拉津降解能力,为解决黑龙江偏碱土壤中阿特拉津残留提供了良好的候选菌株。